Chicago Cubs lead Giants 2-0 in NLDS as series heads west

Hendricks was not seriously hurt and the Cubs went on to claim a 5-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants and a 2-0 lead in their National League Division Series.

Ben Zobrist hit a run-scoring single off former Cubs and now Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija in the first inning, and Hendricks added a two-run single in a three-run second.

Wrigley Field in Chicago might be the most attractive place on Earth for baseball fans and it is also the location for game 2 of the first round of playoffs between the Cubbies and Giants.

Samardzija's troubles started early as Cubs leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler doubled off the right field wall.

The Cubs hoped that Hendricks could assert control from there, using his arsenal of off-speed pitches to keep the Giants off balance.

Travis Wood not only started the carousel of relievers after Hendricks departed, but he even hit a home run, providing an unlikely power source for the Cubs and the anxiety-ridden crowd at Wrigley Field.

Before departing, Hendricks delivered a two-run single to spark the Cubs' 3-run second inning.

Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez got the job done with his glove and with his bat in Friday's win over the San Francisco Giants, but before he hit his big home run that gave his team the victory, he got inspiration from one of his teammates. Blanco later scored on Brandon Belt's two-out sacrifice to center. "I watch them, and they never panic", Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after Saturday night's outcome.

The Cubs could have an issue if Hendricks has to miss a start, though the good news is the team announced his X-rays came back negative. He's got a contusion, which is fancy talk for a bad bruise.

"It just feels good to be able to contribute at the plate as well as on the mound", Wood said. "I'll do it right now'".

Wood struck out Conor Gillaspie to strand Pagan, then sent a one-out offering from George Kontos halfway up the left-field bleachers in the bottom half.

"It seems like every (postseason) game has been won by a home run, and today was no different", Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said afterward. Wood proceeded to throw four ideal innings immediately following the injury in a 2-0 Cubs win.

"This club has a history, and that's what you like about what's going on now, finding a way to win that game they have to win and moving on", Bochy said. But with Lester stifling the Giants over eight spotless innings, Baez's one-out homer was the difference. Hector Rondon, who had been shaky since returning from injury, was anything but tonight, getting Buster Posey to strike out and Hunter Pence to ground out. LA manager Dave Roberts said lefty Julio Urias would start Game 4, if necessary, which would leave ace Clayton Kershaw available for a possible Game 5. The last time that's happened was.oh, forget it. But look at it from the Giants point of view. With Bumgarner on the hill, San Francisco has to like their chances in Game 3 and maybe a win puts a scare into Chicagowho begins to imagine the ramifications of blowing a 2-0 lead and losing the final game at Wrigley. The Giants then fell behind 3-1 in the NLCS against St. Louis and stayed alive again.

So nothing is decided yet.

The Giants have won nine straight elimination games. After that, Matt Moore likely awaits. The Cubs should go for the sweep on Monday.

Jake Arrieta will face Bumgarner in Game 3, and it figures to be quite the matchup.

Until Monday though, go celebrate.

While also being someone the Cubs can lean on in the summer and the fall. During their three World Series campaigns, never once did the Giants find themselves in this deep a hole, against a team of this caliber.